Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія

           EvenifGenslingerwastobepaid,wherewasthemoneytocomefrom?HislegalbattleswiththeRailroad,extendingnowoveraperiodofmanyyears,hadcosthimdear;hisplanofsowingallofLosMuertostowheat,dischargingthetenants,hadprovedexpensive,thecampaignresultinginLyman’selectionhaddrawnheavilyuponhisaccount.Allalonghehadbeenrelyingupona“bonanzacrop”toreimbursehim.ItwasnotbelievablethattheRailroadwould“jump”LosMuertos,butifthisshouldhappen,hewouldbeleftwithoutresources.Tenthousanddollars!Couldheraisetheamount?Possibly.Buttopayitouttoablackmailer!Tobeheldupthusinroad-agentfashion,withoutasinglemeansofredress!Woulditnotcripplehimfinancially?Genslingercoulddohisworst.He,Magnus,wouldbraveitout.Wasnothischaracterabovesuspicion?

           Wasit?ThisletterofGethings’s.Alreadythemurmurofuneasinessmadeitselfheard.Wasthisnotthethinedgeofthewedge?HowthepublicationofGenslinger’sstorywoulddriveithome!Howthesparkofsuspicionwouldflareintotheblazeofopenaccusation!Therewouldbeinvestigations.Investigation!Therewasterrorintheword.Hecouldnotstandinvestigation.Magnusgroanedaloud,coveringhisheadwithhisclaspedhands.